Now the Cathedral has had to fork out for CCTV cameras after yobs terrorised staff and tenants.

Following a disturbing attack on an employee, leading clergy have taken the desperate measure of bringing an ancient gate-locking ritual to an end.

The Dean of Chester, the Very Rev Dr Gordon McPhate, says CCTV coverage is vital but costly after the cathedral fell £700,000 short last year.

'The cathedral is desperately short of money, we are on the verge of being broke,' said Dr McPhate.

'But we are determined to safeguard our staff and those who live on the grounds.'

Although police intervention has resulted in an improvement, the cathedral has seen a series of incidents, mainly during evenings and weekends.

There have been reports of sex attacks, stolen purses and wallets are often found discarded and groups of vagrants congregate on the historic grounds, disturbing tenants and staff members who live in cathedral accommodation.

'They are faced with drug addicts and drunks sleeping on their doorsteps, shouting and demanding attention and discarded needles in front of their houses', said Dr McPhate.

And recently, an 800-year-old tradition was brought to an end after drunks threatened and verbally abused a verger as he tried to lock the Kaleyard Gate on Abbey Street.

The ancient ritual of closing the gate each evening has been going since Edward I allowed the Benedictine Monastery to install it so that they could access their fields of vegetables.

The gate was originally locked at dusk subject to the city's curfew to safeguard Chester from Welsh armies.

But Dr McPhate has decided the gate should remain open, so as not to put the vergers at risk, although he hopes it is just a temporary measure.

Along with estate managers, he has met with police and city council officials to discuss the problems and the option of CCTV surveillance.

Although Chester City Council will help install the cameras and the police will help to monitor them, the cathedral has to foot the bill.

But Dr McPhate said the expense is going to add more pressure to the cathedral's purse strings.

He said: 'We have struck up a relationship with the police, which has been very reassuring. They advised that we close off some of the accesses, but we do not want to do that.

'The last thing we want to do is become a fortress and stop people from coming. In light of the current financial situation, we cannot afford to alienate people. The other option, of course, is CCTV.'

Police have stepped up patrols around Chester Cathedral to stamp out the anti-social behaviour.

Inspector Peter Crowcroft, of the Inner Sector Community Action Team, says targeting the area has reduced the number of incidents.

He said: 'We have established links with the cathedral, given staff crime prevention advice and issued them with log books to record any incidents.

'We advised they restrict some accesses and suggested that the pavilion area of the cathedral be cleaned up. Dark scruffy areas tend to attract anti-social behaviour. Lighting and CCTV are aspects of crime prevention anywhere.'

The number of incidents recently decreased and Insp Crowcroft has put that down to increased patrols.

'We are working closely with the cathedral and it has had a positive effect. But we will not rest on our laurels,' he added.

Security expenditure worsens cash crisis THE Dean of Chester says paying for CCTV is the last thing he needs as the city's historic Cathedral faces a cash crisis.

The Very Rev Dr Gordon McPhate said: 'People have a misconception that cathedrals are funded by the local authorities, that things like surveillance cameras will be the responsibility of police and council, but that is not the case'

It costs £1 million to run the cathedral each year including staff and maintenance, but excluding special projects like the Song School Appeal.

Between April 2002 and April 2003, the cathedral had to raise an additional £400,000 for the appeal but fell £700,000 short of its overall financial target.

Mr McPhate said funding had decreased since the 9/11 attack on New York when the number of Americans - traditionally the most generous tourists - visiting Britain fell.

He said the cathedral needs to enlist the help of the community to raise funds.